Your views: Panel discussion

Keep it special

The more frequently something happens or is used, the less special - and more ordinary - it becomes.

Take fireworks, for example. Growing up, fireworks were reminiscent of the "rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air" and associated only with Independence Day celebrations. Today, there are fireworks after races, games, community celebrations and more. Their specialness and symbolism is gone.

During the recent Packer Hall of Fame induction ceremony, two Marines stood guard over the Lombardi trophies. Traditionally, military honor guards have been reserved to honor fallen soldiers. I'd hate to see the military honor guard lose its meaning like Independence Day fireworks have. Our fallen soldier-heroes deserve better!

Carla Halvorson

Two Rivers

A nation threatened

America faces its' biggest threat since WWII. Russia is rattling sabers as Putin dismantles democracy and meddles in Iran and Syria. China is an economic and military power financed by our addiction to cheap goods. China has our jobs and our money. The EU is an economic power and India is becoming one. We in turn struggle with high unemployment and high debt.

America is being misled by politicians who represent at best 25 percent of us; half of us do not vote, but all seem to whine.

America, wake up! It's time for a second political party. The one we have now has a right wing and a left wing and they take turns doing nothing but point fingers. Their mission: get re-elected.

America needs solutions, compromise and leadership.

Just me?

Ed Hansen

Manitowoc

Inevitable verdict

I've had the time and interest to watch most of the George Zimmerman trial. I could tell very early that he would be acquitted. The defense had several paid expert witnesses. For whatever reason (probably money) the prosecution had few, if any expert witnesses and no rebuttal experts. The prosecution did a good job tugging at the heartstrings of the jury but did very little else. The defense had 30 to 40 people on their team, compared to 10 or 15 for the prosecution. The two sides argued over a comma in the jury instructions, which totally changed the meaning of a paragraph, defense won that argument. Upon hearing the jury instructions, they jury had but one choice - not guilty.

Jerome Bolle

Whitelaw

We're not stupid!

... and another thing!

Our congressmen in Washington don't represent us and they think we are stupid! Representative Petri is a perfect example. His own survey of Wisconsinites showed the majority of his constituents favor gun background checks and citizenship for undocumented immigrants but he is against both. He stated he takes into account his 70 years of knowledge and wisdom. In other words he is smart because he is old and we are dumb, further adding if we don't like what he is doing then "hire someone else." Good idea!

... he's ridiculous, enough already!

Roy Geigel

Manitowoc

Too much idle land

I just finished a novel by C.J.Box, titled "Breaking Point." It's an inside look at the Environmental Protection Agency. At the end of the book is a very thought provoking chart showing the amount of land owned by the federal government, in a state-by-state percentage of land owned.

Google state-by-state government land ownership. Here are the percentages:

? Nevada: 88 percent; 61,548 acres

? Utah: 68 percent; 35,723 acres

? Alaska: 67 percent; 244,627 acres

? Idaho: 65 percent; 34,520 acres

? Oregon: 56 percent; 34,084 acres

? California: 50 percent; 49,084 acres

? Wyoming: 50 percent; 30,902 acres

I only listed those over 50 percent. Personally if I had a large debt, and a huge amount of land just sitting idle, I think I'd have to liquidate some of my property and pay off some of my debt. I'm not talking about military bases, or national parks, etc., I'm talking about land that's just lying idle.

Naturally restrictions would be necessary (must remain in ownership of a US citizen for 100 years, or whatever) ...

Les Graebel

Manitowoc

Wheels coming off

The city of Detroit declared bankruptcy on July 18 with $28.5 billion in liabilities, $380 million budget deficit, and long-term debt of $20 billion. This is an example of a socialist gravy train. The blame lies with high auto union salaries, benefits, and pensions, high city salaries, benefits, and pensions, high health insurance, and declining revenues.

Finally, the city reached its limit on the tax-and-borrow scheme. $40 million in pensions are at risk. In 2009, GM and Chrysler received $80 billion in TARP money, which was used to save union jobs without stockholder consideration. Liberal Democrats are abundant, financially unsound, and have a very long learning curve.

John Goswitz

Manitowoc

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Your views: Panel discussion

The more frequently something happens or is used, the less special ? and more ordinary ? it becomes.

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